Everything you need to know about moving to Greater Portland.

Portland and Vancouver: A Tale of Two Cities

Photo courtesy of Visit Vancouver USA

Portland has plenty of variation in housing opportunities, but attractive homes and communities lie beyond the city limits of Portland as well. While the city of Portland is a highly desirable place to live with plenty of diversity in housing options, there are homeowners who still prefer to live further from urbanity, with the opportunity to own bigger homes and more land, while still remaining close enough to work within the city.

Vancouver, Washington is a popular option, right across the Columbia River. Vancouver is a small city with a population of approximately 160,000. The population density of Vancouver (as of the 2010 census) was 3,482 residents per square mile.

Many tall condominium structures were built in Vancouver in the early 2000’s, in alignment with efforts to draw more people to the city’s downtown area. At that same time, the city saw a revitalization of the local art scene.

Vancouver’s proximity to Portland has made it a popular place for commuters who seek more affordable housing with a similar but smaller city environment.

Beaverton is another popular suburban option for Portland workers who wish to live elsewhere. Without traffic, Beaverton residents can reach Portland in about 12 minutes. Located in the Tualatin River Valley, Beaverton was named among Money magazine’s top 100 places to live in the country. TriMet’s light rail makes it easy for commuters to come in and out of the city, without facing Portland’s infamously bad traffic.